Transparent hat box

ABSTRACT

The Transparent Hot Box presented herein and illustrated by FIGS.  1,  2 and  3  is comprised as follows. Case  2  is molded from a transparent plastic material with side walls extending upwardly from an octagon-shaped floor section, whereby said side walls form an octagonal-shaped box. Base  6  extends from the outer face of the case&#39;s floor section and features an octagon shape with outer dimensions which are slightly less that those of case  2.  Lid  4  is also formed from an octagonal-shaped transparent plastic material with dimensions which approximates those of case  2.  Lid  4  has an outer face that features a recessed center section corresponding to the size and shape of base  6,  and inner face that corresponds closely to the anterior edge of said case&#39;s side walls. Handle  8  is composed of a flexible length of cord or plastic mounted onto the side of case  2  via removable retaining posts  12;  said posts install into apertures  10  in the case&#39;s side walls.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is preceded by provisional patent (filed) whichembodies the present design.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER LISTING COMPACTDISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to devices that provide storage and carryingdevices for headwear. Past inventions have demonstrated a variety ofheadwear boxes that include the following designs. Kreuter D161,844discloses a conical hatbox comprised of corresponding upper and lowerhalves. Miller U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,400 shows a rack forstoring/displaying baseball-style caps featuring a translucent,cylindrical main section. Faulkstien U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,842 shows acollapsible square box for caps that features transparent windows.Hatcher U.S. Pat. No. 3,402,807 discloses a set of hat containers thatcan be stacked inside of a fitted bag. These references are typicallyshaped to fit either a baseball cap or a hat with a cylindrical crown.None of these references provide a headwear container that issimultaneously rigid, stackable, mildew resistant, completelytransparent and capable of accommodating headwear of virtually anyshape/size.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein provides features not seen in prior art.This container features a unique octagonal shape that accommodates awider range of hats than the aforementioned types of designs. The flatfacets of the side walls allow containers to be packed tightly alongsideeach other (cylindrical containers slide away from each other whenpacked together tightly). This shape also allows the containers to bestored on their sides if desired (cylindrical containers will roll ifused in this fashion). Unlike other designs it is completely transparentto allow identification and display of the contents and seals outmoisture to prevent mildew. This invention is also stackable and can beeasily carried.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 depicts a frontal perspective view of a single unit of theinvention with unattached lid and attached handle.

FIG. 2 depicts a frontal perspective view of two units of the invention,stacked together and containing headwear.

FIG. 3 depicts a cutaway view of a single unit and lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Description—Main Embodiment

The description presented herein and illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2 iscomprised as follows. Case 2 is molded from a transparent plasticmaterial with side walls extending upwardly from an octagon-shaped floorsection, whereby said side walls form an octagonal-shaped box. Base 6extends from the outer face of the case's floor section and features anoctagon shape with outer dimensions which are slightly less that thoseof case 2. Lid 4 is also formed from an octagonal-shaped transparentplastic material with dimensions which correspond to those of case 2.Lid 4 has an outer face that features a recessed center sectioncorresponding to the size and shape of base 6, and inner face thatcorresponds closely to the anterior edge of said case's side walls.

Handle 8 is composed of a flexible length of cord or plastic mountedonto the side of case 2. One embodiment to mount said handle consists ofapertures 10 in opposing side walls of case 2 through which snap-inretaining posts 12 are installed.

Operation—Main Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows the device when not in use. Headwear is placed inside ofcase 2 and lid 4 is depressed onto the open end of case until inner faceof lid engages the anterior edge of the case's walls. Unit can be liftedand carried via handle 8, or stacked by placing base 6 into the recessedcenter section of lid 4 of a second unit as in FIG. 2. Retaining posts12 can be installed into apertures 10 in sides of case 2 if desired.This allows convenient carrying of the unit via handle 8. Ends ofcord-type handle 8 can be tied around retaining posts 12 or the ends ofstrap-type handle 8 can be secured by retaining posts 12. Retainingposts can also be used to seal the apertures in the case to prevent theintroduction of contaminants.

1. A storage system for headwear and the like comprising: a) a boxformed from a rigid, transparent or semi-transparent material, havingside walls disposed in a fashion that creates an octagonal-shaped innercavity and outer appearance; b) said box featuring an open anterior end,a posterior end that is closed by a base, and a plurality of apertureswithin the side walls at its anterior end; c) a base that completelyencloses the posterior of said box, featuring an octagonal shapedcentral section that projects downwardly beyond the posterior edge ofthe box's side walls, while having a smaller circumference than saidbox.
 2. A storage system as described in claim 1 that includes: a) aoctagonal shaped lid formed from a rigid, transparent orsemi-transparent material, featuring an reverse face that can tightlyengage the anterior edge of the box's side walls; b) said lid featuringan obverse face with an octagonal shaped recess on its center, which canreceive and engage the aforementioned base of another box as describedin claim 1; c) a removable handle means, formed from a length ofmaterial that is attached to the sides of the aforementioned box viaremovable retaining posts which fit into the aforementioned apertures insaid box's walls.